1962.0240.874 Tablespoon upper surface
  • 1962.0240.874 Tablespoon upper surface
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Spoon (Tablespoon)

  • Category:

    Metals

  • Creator (Role):

    Nathaniel Austin (Possible maker)

  • Place of Origin:

    Charlestown, Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1755-1770

  • Materials:

    Silver

  • Techniques:

    Engraved

  • Museum Object Number:

    1962.0240.874


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1962.0240.874

Object Name

Spoon (Tablespoon)

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Bissell

Creator (Role)

Nathaniel Austin (Possible maker)
1741-03/05/1818
Nathaniel Austin is a distant relative of Richard Austin. Nathaniel Austin (one of many Nathaniel Austins, one of whom was a goldsmith active in Boston) was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He started his business in 1763; with the arrival of the British in 1776, he lost his home and shop during the bombardment of the town. After fleeing to Lunenburg, he returned to Charlestown after the British departed, around 1780. For more on Nathaniel Austin's marks, see Kauffman, The American Pewterer (1970), p.131; Montgomery, History of American Pewter (1973), p.215; Carl Jacobs, Guide to American Pewter (1957), p.22-23; Ebert, Collecting American Pewter (1973), p.121; and C. Jordan Thorn, Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks (1949), p.237. See also Laughlin, Pewter in America (1981), vol.1, p.75-76 and J.B. Kerfoot, American Pewter (1942), p.85-86 (though Kerfoot treats the two Nathaniels--pewterer and goldsmith--as one and the same).

Place of Origin

Charlestown, Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

Origin Notes

As per previous cataloguer: Origin is Charlestown or Boston, Massachusetts.

Date

1755-1770

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Handle, underside; "N·A" stamped in a rectangle
2. Inscription; Handle, underside, end; "S P" engraved

Materials

Silver

Techniques

Engraved

Dimensions (inches)

7.677 (L) , 1.575 (W) , 1.4462 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

19.5 (L) , 4 (W) , 41 (Weight)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Belden, Louise C. 1980 Marks of American Silversmiths in the Ineson-Bissell Collection. 506 p.
An illustrated glossary of spoon terms, pp. 467-488
[Book] Kane, Patricia E. 1998 Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers. 1241.
Pages 158-162.